88 thoughts on “News/Politics 1-25-25”

  1. From a friend:

    View this email in your browser

    January 24, 2025

    Don’t Fear the Storm

    Today I’m going to share the message with you I gave at the gala in D.C. this past Sunday night. I’ve shared some of the content in previous posts, but even if some is familiar to the faithful listeners, I pray it inspires you. 

    “Ronald Reagan once told the following story:

    ‘A fellow was running for office as a Republican in a heavily Democratic State and stopped by a farm to do some campaigning. When the farmer heard he was a Republican, his jaw dropped, and he said, “You wait right here while I get Ma. She’s never seen a Republican.”

    ‘So, he went to get Ma. 

    ‘While they were gone, the candidate looked around for a platform from which to give his speech. The only thing he could find was a pile of that stuff that Bess Truman took 35 years trying to get Harry to call fertilizer. So, he got up on that mound, and when they came back, he gave his speech. At the end of it, the farmer said, “That’s the first time I ever heard a Republican speech.”

    ‘The candidate said, “That’s the first time I’ve ever given a Republican speech from a Democratic platform.’(1)

    The Rooster

    “Speaking of unpleasant debris piles…the story is told of a man named Samuel S. Scull, who settled in the Arizona desert with his family.

    “One night, a fierce desert storm struck with rain, hail, and high winds. At daybreak, fearing what he might find, Samuel went out to survey their loss.

    “It was devastating. The hail had beaten the garden into the ground; the house was partially unroofed; the henhouse was a pile of debris, and dead chickens were scattered about. Destruction and devastation were everywhere.

    “While standing dazed, evaluating the mess and wondering about the future, Scull heard a stirring in the rubble that had once been the henhouse. A rooster was climbing out of it. The old rooster was dripping wet, bloody, and most of his feathers were blown away. But as the sun came over the eastern horizon, something stirred in his DNA. The pain, blood, bruises, and devastation no longer controlled him. He climbed until he had reached the highest board in the pile, flapped his bony wings, stuck out his chest, and proudly crowed.(2)

    “Why?

    “It was his nature, wired into his DNA, to awaken the world and announce a new day. And no amount of devastation could overcome that nature. 

    “And that’s when the storm lost its power to destroy Samuel Scull. 

    The American Spirit

    “It appears to me that citizens of nations take on a national DNA, and the American spirit is much like that rooster. I have a theory about this, which is that somehow God took the hearts of our Founding Fathers and programmed them into the American DNA, shaping the American spirit. It seems that their love of liberty and the willingness to preserve it at all costs made their way into America’s genetic code. Perhaps God planted the heart of Patrick Henry – ‘Give me liberty or give me death’ – into our collective DNA. Maybe lesser known Lewis Morris’ willingness to sacrifice for freedom’s cause found its way into our cells. Lewis was the guy who, when warned by his brother not to sign the Declaration of Independence because of the likely cost, simply said, ‘Damn the consequences; give me the pen.’(3)

    “Could that have been when the American spirit took root?

    “Perhaps our Creator looked down at patriot Sam Adams – instigator of the Boston Tea Party, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and ‘Father of the American Revolution’(4) – and told the DNA angels, ‘Put some of him in the American psyche. Because when times get hard, the cultural storms come, and the debris piles up – when the border is open, and the terrorists arrive; when the foundations are destroyed, and the government becomes corrupt; when decency and common sense are abandoned, and children are being mutilated – I’m going to need some patriotic Americans who will climb to the top of the devastation and boldly announce that the storm will NOT destroy us, and declare that a new day has begun.’

    Patriotism

    “Some today would actually have us believe that patriotism is inappropriate. There are even Christians who consider it unbiblical, labeling it ‘Christian Nationalism’ and superimposing on us things we don’t believe. But our English word ‘patriot’ comes from the Greek word for ‘father,’ pater.(5) Why? Because fathers reproduce themselves, passing on their nature, their beliefs, their hearts, and vision. And in the context of nations, we call this offspring ‘patriots.’ If you don’t like patriotism, you don’t like fathers. 

    “Now, what must we do when a mutation occurs, creating a genetic disorder…when the generational flow from the Founding Fathers is interrupted…when the American spirit and patriotism seem to have been lost to liars, revisionists, lovers of self, globalists, godless politicians, and though it pains me to say it, weak preachers? Well, the recovery begins with someone climbing the debris pile and shouting, ‘No!!! Our roots are NOT dead! And it is NOT in our nature to surrender to the storm! We will NOT give up our God-given destiny or surrender our inheritance!’

    “When Sam Adams was told by James Warren in 1772, three years before the revolution, that many towns and people were faltering in their willingness to face the British storm, he climbed the debris pile and said, ‘Nil desperandum,’ (that’s Latin, and Adam’s interpreted it) ‘Never Despair’.(6) That is our motto. All are NOT dead, and where there is a SPARK of patriotic fire, we will rekindle it!!!’

    “This is occurring in America today.

    “Here are two more quotes from ‘Rooster’ Adams, ‘Father of the American Revolution,’ and a pater to millions of patriots. 

    “In 1777 things were not yet going well for Americans in the Revolutionary War. As the delegates in York considered the plausibility of achieving independence from England, Adams addressed them, stating his firm conviction: ‘We have appealed to Heaven for the justice of our cause, and in Heaven, we have placed our trust. Numerous have been the manifestations of God’s Providence in sustaining us… We shall never be abandoned by Heaven while we act worthy of its aid and protection.’(7)

    “In 1780, at the end of the war, ‘Prophet’ Adams spoke into our day: ‘If ever the time should come when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.’(8)

    “And here we are. 

    “I leave you with one more quote, this one the words of a Jewish patriot and prophet named Isaiah. He spoke a word from God, found in chapter one, verse 26, of the book that bears his name. In the Voice Translation it reads: ‘I will bring back legislators who have integrity, people like your founding fathers—principled decision-makers. Then your city will be called honorable and just, a model of ethics, trustworthy, and strong.’ 

    “Don’t fear the storm.”(9)

    Pray with me:

    Father, You have placed in us an overcoming spirit. We are more than conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37), partakers of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). We also have received a heritage of bravery and liberty from our Founding Fathers. We will not cower to the spiritual storm that has brought devastation to our nation and its culture. We will not fear evil, just as You instructed us. 

    We thank You for fathers, paters, who prophetically spoke over America Your divine purpose for her, and others who sought You for America’s Constitution and Bill of Rights. As the offspring of these paters, we are delighted to accept their legacy, making us patriots. We boldly declare that this will not be stolen from us by lying politicians, a deceitful media, propagandizing educators, or deceived preachers. We have laid hold of Your destiny for our nation and will not surrender it. 

    We ask for a revival that saves millions spiritually and reforms us nationally. Infuse Kingdom ideals back into American life, and the King’s commission back into our hearts. We stand on the rubble of humanism, secularism, Marxism, wokism, and all other philosophies satan has used to form the storm, declaring that it is our nature to conquer, and welcoming a new day. 

    Protect and lead our government, revive the church, and send the great awakening we need. All this we ask in Yeshua’s name. Amen. 

    Our decree:

    We decree that we do not fear storms; we conquer them.

    Click on the link below to watch the full video.https://youtu.be/JdMqSjGOYDI

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  2. More fake news from the usual suspects. They falsely reported Mexico was refusing to accept the deportations.

    https://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/1882962508799205427?t=NtVP4kg9oWmFSiGXravoTg&s=19

    “FAKE NEWS from NBC: White House Officials confirmed to me moments ago that Mexico accepted 4 illegal alien deportation flights yesterday.

    Mexico has also accepted tens of thousands of land returns on roadway and on foot.

    This is FAKE NEWS and needs a correction immediately.”

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  4. About time! Root out the vermin.

    https://x.com/RodDMartin/status/1882849055417799096?t=d7R8MVJEAVkWjKORgEg4jw&s=19

    “Inside the MASSIVE Trump DOJ shake-up you need to know about. A thread that will blow your mind… 1/16”

    —-

    “Let me tell you what’s REALLY happening behind closed doors at DOJ right now. 20+ career officials SIDELINED overnight. This is just the beginning… 2/16”

    —-

    “Trump’s team isn’t waiting for Senate confirmations. They’re moving NOW, pushing out long-time prosecutors who’ve been there for YEARS.

    These are people who’ve been politicizing “justice” for years. No longer. The Merrick Garland Reign of Terror is OVER. 3/16″

    —–

    “The purge is hitting EVERY major division:

    – Criminal Division ❌

    – National Security ❌

    – International Affairs ❌

    4/16″

    —-

    “Meanwhile, the all-important SDNY gets Danielle Sassoon – the prosecutor who took down Sam Bankman-Fried and prominent sex traffickers. She even clerked for Justice Scalia!

    At least SOMEONE has a real track record 🎯 9/16″

    ——

    “Christopher Wray? GONE

    Paul Abbate? RETIRED

    The people who weaponized law “enforcement” against half the country are falling like dominoes 13/16″

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  5. Yes! A thousand times, yes!

    https://x.com/seanmdav/status/1882995474241904768?t=YQgeTFKgmt3aRmloxv-3fg&s=19

    “Now it’s time for Trump to crush, with extreme prejudice, the entire Mitch McConnell staffer-fundraiser-lobbyist network in D.C. Ban them from all admin jobs and appointments, PNG their clients, and cut them off from all RNC/congressional campaign contracts.”

    —–

    https://x.com/jurispectives/status/1883008841962397789?t=P0yIemNjaB5XVrH_LbPjeg&s=19

    “The biggest way Trump could hit them is banning anyone connected with money coming to Mitch or other congressmen from receiving money from a government contract. He could do it through an EO and connect it to the results of a government audit. Raytheon and Lockheed would be out. So would Mitch.”

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  6. “You are a lunatic who requires both psychiatric attention, an investigation by Trump DOJ, and lawsuits from the J6ers you tormented.

    This is one of the many horrible people I watched prosecute Americans for exercising their 1A rights. THEY are the threat, not J6ers.”

    https://x.m/julie_kelly2/status/1882801254839333285?t=48hQyXOblTbckojmLI5c9Q&s=19

    —–

    Brendan Ballou is this frauds name. He will now get a taste of what he did to Jan6ers as he is forced to go broke defending himself. And in his case, from far worse crimes than Parading. These civil suits will out these frauds once and for all. Can’t wait.

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  7. Huh.

    https://x.com/AndrewKerrNC/status/1882884048328294848?t=8Fuy0ICOGvK0cT2knk6c3g&s=19

    “NEW: Gavin Newsom disbanded a highly trained team of certified firefighters in early 2024 — a move that left his National Guard incapable of sending a complete firefighting force to Los Angeles until 10 days after the fires broke out.

    This story is wild, read this🧵to the end”

    —-

    “Team Blaze came at virtually no cost to California.

    Its certified volunteer firefighters attended regular trainings at their own expense.

    An outside charity procured much of the team’s firefighting equipment at no cost to the state.

    California only paid Team Blaze when it was activated to fight a fire.”

    —-

    “But in 2023, the Newsom administration barred Team Blaze from receiving free firefighting equipment from its charitable benefactor.

    You read that right: the Newsom administration in 2023 deemed it illegal for an outside charity to provide free firefighting equipment to the certified volunteer firefighters under Newsom’s command.

    More on this later in the thread.”

    —-

    “In 2024, the Newsom administration shut down Team Blaze.

    Team Blaze had to return its equipment to the state, most its firefighters quit, and those that remained were transferred to serve as reserves for another unit called Task Force Rattlesnake.”

    —–

    “Team Blaze maintained a standing force of Type II handcrews.

    And when the Newsom admin disbanded Team Blaze, the California National Guard was left with no standing force of Type II handcrews.

    They simply didn’t exist when the flames broke out in Los Angeles on Jan. 7.”

    —–

    “As Los Angeles burned, the California National Guard sent 200 soldiers to Camp Roberts—situated 220 miles north of the burning city—to be trained how to perform the duties of a Type II handcrew.

    Those 200 soldiers didn’t arrive in Los Angeles until Jan. 17 — some 10 days after the fires broke out.”

    —-

    “The California National Guard posted these facts in a now-deleted Facebook post on Jan. 17.

    But that’s okay, because the @FreeBeacon saved the video before the Newsom administration deleted it. You can watch it here.”

    https://x.com/AndrewKerrNC/status/1882884062521782528?t=lUfbZj3H7Hy_UxPcd5jv_g&s=19

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  9. This is what leadership failure looks like.

    https://x.com/chamath/status/1883007966313599134?t=ZHLGMaF8Gk7LNV_QwYAFaQ&s=19

    “@POTUS is right.

    Snowmelt from the Sierra Nevadas and rainfall sent almost 30 million cubic acres of water into the Sacramento River Delta over the past 15 months.

    Of this, only 23% was sent to productive use in farmland irrigation and homes.

    A staggering 77% was sent to the ocean. The multiyear “drought” affecting most of California is man-made.

    California under @GavinNewsom is full of some of the dumbest, destructive policies imaginable.”

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  10. And that is why Trump took them to the woodshed yesterday. In full view live broadcast Trump exposed the ridiculous leadership in CA. It was interesting to watch. …especially as Bass lied like a rug on the floor. Oh that despicable woman.

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  12. ~~~ “These shifts have significant consequences, some of which we are only beginning to appreciate.

    On a fundamental level, the move from articles of a few hundred words to 280 characters in the 2010s meant a shift from even the modest amount of detail and subtlety in the average news report to a world of oversimplified takes. Trade-offs and complexity don’t get a look in.

    This isn’t just about short formats. Instant feedback in the form of likes and share counts quickly taught people that the best-performing content is generally exaggerated and hostile rather than moderate and nuanced. The emerging media landscape became unfavourable to an educated centrist establishment, but a boon to populists and radicals.” ~~~

    Where it mentions “centrists,” I think it is merely referring to those of us whose views lean neither towards the populists and such on the right nor towards the leftists on the left.

    https://www.ft.com/content/2262f82e-fb65-445b-b99c-b039c1b32ce9?accessToken=–sanitized–&sharetype=gift&token=–sanitized–&fbclid=IwY2xjawIB7kZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfnSjxs6YWRaVlQpB8qxpeqZZoDcPHzWljqiBT_yR29JsQ25K4-c9aYALw_aem_avQ1B1OZqqwkOtArYV9Baw

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  13. @10:15

    I appreciate posts that encourage discussion about Christianity and U.S. politics. I’d take issue with much of that post (authored by Dutch Sheets who is affiliated with C. Peter Wagner’s New Apostolic Reformation movement and a member of Wagner’s Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders).

    So in the interest of discussion (and perhaps as a caution), not meaning to be argumentative, this is a 2015 post from Biola University, a conservative Christian university in California that is familiar to many us here:

    ~ A New ‘Reformation’ That Many Don’t Realize They’ve Joined — Faculty/Alumni Book Excerpt

    “If you thought apostles and prophets only lived way back in Bible times and have long since disappeared, think again. Contemporary people calling themselves apostles and prophets have many followers. They are vigorously active in churches in the United States and throughout the world. Odds are, some are active in your own community. These men and women claim they have the God-given authority, divine strategies and miraculous powers needed to advance God’s earthly kingdom so that Christ can return. And they offer people a choice.

    If you submit to their leadership, then you too will work mighty miracles. You’ll become part of a great end-time army that will bring about a world revival and cleanse the earth of evil by calling down hailstones, fire and the other judgments of God described in the New Testament book of Revelation.

    If you do not submit to their leadership then, at the very least, you will miss out on God’s end-time plans. And if you actively oppose the apostles and prophets, then brace yourself for the fallout. Others must be warned that you are the pawn of a powerful demon, known as the “spirit of religion.”

    This may sound radical and unappealing, but the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is growing rapidly. In the United States, it began taking off in the 1980s and 1990s, when prophets and apostles starting showing up in churches. Today, about 3 million people in the United States attend churches that openly embrace NAR apostles and prophets. And that number doesn’t include the many Pentecostal and charismatic churches that have not openly embraced these leaders, yet have been influenced by their teachings in varying degrees. 

    People in these churches read bestselling books by NAR prophets — books like Rick Joyner’s The Final Quest or the apostle Bill Johnson’s When Heaven Invades Earth. Or they use a new, wildly popular NAR Bible, called The Passion Translation, produced by the apostle Brian Simmons, who claims that Christ visited him personally and commissioned him to release this new translation. …

    NAR leaders call their new movement apostolic because they claim to be restoring apostles and prophets to the church. And they call it a reformation because they say it will completely change the way church is done — and its effects will be greater than the 16th-century Protestant Reformation.

    That’s a bold claim. Yet many people who are part of this movement don’t know it’s called the New Apostolic Reformation. In fact, they may not even know they are part of a movement at all. And they may not be fully aware of all the extreme teachings associated with it. But they certainly know of — and follow the teachings of — men and women who believe they are apostles and prophets similar to the apostles of Christ and the Old Testament prophets.

    Excerpted from God’s Super-Apostles: Encountering the Worldwide Prophets and Apostles Movement, by R. Douglas Geivett (professor of philosophy) and Holly (Peters ’99, M.A. ’05) Pivec, Weaver Book Co., December 2014. Used by permission of Weaver, http://www.weaverbookcompany.com. Geivett and Pivec are also authors of A New Apostolic Reformation?: A Biblical Response to a Worldwide Movement, Weaver Book Co., December 2014.

    The rest: https://www.biola.edu/blogs/biola-magazine/2015/a-new-reformation

    I will give the excerpt above a more careful reading later this weekend, as I prefer to address specific issues and not “people,” though this overall movement that appears to inform the piece causes me concern. (And movements within the broader Christian community are important for us to keep abreast of, sometimes they appear mainstream and biblical, but aren’t.)

    • dj

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  14. I must have narrowly avoided moderation with only 2 links (but I only intended to leave 1 in there, missed removing the 2nd one!) — I guess 2 must be the limit, very tricky in this new “Word” system!

    • dj

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  15. It is interesting to hear many points of view. I was glad to receive that from my friend, Dj. Thank you for sharing from your insightful resources. The more the merrier.

    There is only one truth. I hug my Bible close as THE TRUTH! We who read and digest God’s word every day are blessed beyond measure with the best news ever no matter what our political persuasion. God rules supreme! He uses world leaders and systems as He sees fit according to His end plans.

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  16. Another one confirmed:
    The Senate confirmed South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Saturday to serve as the Secretary of Homeland Security, putting her in charge of executing one of President Trump’s biggest priorities in his second term: cracking down on immigration.

    Noem, a Republican, won confirmation in a 59-34 vote. She becomes the fourth person confirmed in Trump’s cabinet, following Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Pete Hegseth, who was narrowly appointed Secretary of Defense on Friday night after Vice President J.D. Vance cast a tie-breaking vote.

    https://www.npr.org/2025/01/25/g-s1-44753/immigration-senate-kristi-noem-confirmation-vote

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  17. Thank you Janice @2:13.

    Cabinet appointees — some will step down in time (which always happens), I think Hegseth may only last 1-2 years and decide maybe to move on to a more high-profile media spot. Who knows. ?

    Press secretaries especially don’t last long, most presidents go through several, it’s not an easy spot to be in — the new one in charge for the Trump administration, I read, is 27 years old; she’s making an early name for herself and will move on to other things with this on her resume. (May not help in all cases, but in many it will give her a career boost whatever she decides to do next.)

    I think only young people can handle all the stress required in those positions.

    • dj

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  18. I suspect much of the deportation/arrests of migrants will be touted and press released everyday, even if the number is the same as it was the previous day/month/year. It will dramatised and televised like reality TV. A drop in deportation will be touted as a signs that the fear tactic is working and an increase in deportation will be touted that the border patrol and ICE are hard at work. Its win-win for the propaganda corps.

    X of course will amplify everything with over the top headlines and 250 characters lacking in subtlety. Metaphorical blood will be bled and eyeballs will be drawn to the screen. Some of it will be real and some will be fake. It matters not. By the time, news is corrected, the newest outrage will be on the top of the algorithm.

    hrw

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  19. This is interesting. The Senate is prepared to stay in session nights and weekends until Trump’s entire cabinet is approved. They’re apparently preparing to vote again tonight and maybe again tomorrow.

    Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY) told Breitbart News Saturday that Senate Republicans will hold the Senate in session nights and weekends to confirm President Donald Trump’s nominees.

    Barrasso spoke to Breitbart News Saturday host Matthew Boyle after the Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth on Friday night to become the next Department of Defense secretary and right before Senate Republicans voted to make Kristi Noem the next Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary. Also on Saturday the Senate will vote to advance Treasury Department Secretary nominee Scott Bessent.

    Senate Republicans started holding the Senate in session after Senate Democrats started delaying Trump’s nominees.

    Barrasso said that they saw these sorts of tactics with Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court.

    “They pulled out every stop that they could,” he remarked.

    “We’re going to be working on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, we are going to get President Trump’s cabinet in place,” the Wyoming senator declared.

    He said Senate Republicans want to get substantial bills passed, giving the Laken Riley Act as an example.

    Barrasso noted the marked shift from prior congressional terms.

    “I can’t remember the last time the last time the Senate was in place or even voting on a Friday night,” he said.

    “The country needs it, it’s not just President Trump. The country needs it. We need a secure border. People’s lives will be saved,” Barrasso said.

    He continued, “The American people want us to get the country back on track and it has been way off track for the last four years.”

    “I think Donald Trump has done more for the good of the country in the last one week than Joe Biden in the last four years.”

    https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/01/25/exclusive-sen-john-barrasso-republicans-to-hold-senate-open-nights-weekends-confirm-trump-nominees/

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  20. “Vermin”????? Seriously AJ, that’s not a word to use when describing another human being. There’s a whole thesaurus of vulgar terms to use that would be better than “vermin”. In terms of history, probably the worst term of dehumanization to use.

    Hesgeth was confirmed? I’m sure the military brass will be happy…… I had to look up who voted against him. I’m assuming the ladies from Maine and Alaska will be regarded as independents at this point but McConnell was a shock. Can’t seem to find his rationale for it.

    Noem as a Homeland Security? Wow, you can shoot your dog and still be a good Republican. Shooting a dog should be political death no matter what side of the aisle you are on.

    hrw

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  21. lol. I have to admit, HRW, my husband was against the Noem nomination precisely because she shot her dog—and the goat. Don’t forget the goat. Hopefully she’s better with humans.

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  24. Trump sure is active. He’s having a rally in Las Vegas now discussing his plan to exempt tips from taxation. It is a whirlwind schedule. I wonder if the press is going to be able to keep up after the last lazy four years.

    Donald Trump speaks about his proposal for no taxes on tips in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday, January 25.

    The event will cap off a whirlwind first week of activity for the 47th president’s second term.

    In his first week, Trump issued hundreds of executive orders, began arrest and deportation operations against illegal aliens, pardoned thousands of January 6 prisoners and multiple pro-life activists targeted by the Biden administration, spoke to the World Economic Forum, visited North Carolina and California, and had several nominees confirmed including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Friday night and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem earlier Saturday morning.

    https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/01/25/watch-live-donald-trump-discusses-no-tax-on-tips-in-las-vegas-nevada/

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  25. Kizzie, she said the goat was nasty and stinky and butted her children. So when she shot the dog she decided she might as well get rid of the goat too. Husband thought it indicated a bad temper. It may, but I think life on the farm is much different than life in the city. Husband was a city boy. 🙂

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  27. I have no problem shooting their dog or goat or horse or rabbit or whatever if they deem it necessary.

    hrw 5:05, you mean like people have done as long as people have been. News media, entertainment, professors, authors, musicians, etc. That is why we need Christ, to give us a new heart, alive and loving.

    mumsee

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  28. Jesus’ overall teaching on that point, though, is this:

    ~ In Matthew 12, Jesus teaches the connection between our words and our hearts. He says that simply trying harder to be good will not work because the root of the problem is within us. He says:

    Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. (Matt. 12:33-35)

    The words we speak show what is in our hearts. If our hearts are evil, then the words we speak and write will be evil too. In James 3:8, God’s Word says: “No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”

    How can we receive a new heart? By confessing our sins to Jesus Christ, including our evil words, and by receiving His grace and forgiveness. ~

    • dj

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  29. Interesting to hear Mike Johnson speak at the March for Life. He said he was the product of a teenage pregnancy. His mom was told to “take care of it” by abortion. They chose instead to have him as first born of four siblings.

    So amazing that he, with that background, is third in line in our government. Maybe “Life” was the most important issue to God. The other side ran on a platform of death through abortion.

    I never saw any Trump/Vance signs in my neighborhood. Some Harris/Walz signs are still up. I guess it makes them happy to keep them up lest we forget?

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  30. Again, many of these appointees won’t last the full 4 years, there is always a move by many of those folks to leave after a year or two, it’s a tough environment and — if things aren’t going well under their leadership — a mid-term exit is pretty normal.

    The mid-term elections also offer a chance at correction if things are going too far for those voters who may have supported Trump but are not in the category of “anything he does is OK” that his more avid fans display. Trump’s win partly was due to the ruling party’s failures (and they were many) and a general desire for something new.

    But many may have qualms is they view some of this as a power grab so we may see the balance of representation shift in congress. Both parties tend to fall into “over-reach” if they’ve been out of power for a while.

    So more to come. Two years go by quickly. None of this is permanent.

    • dj

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  32. We must remember that the pejoratives used by Jesus or Paul were aimed at the religious authorities (with Herod being an exception), not to the run-of-the-mill sinners. Even though Herod was the exception to that, he was Jewish like Jesus and the apostles, so the fact that he was a leader of Jewish people may be why he was called out that way.

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  33. @6:35 Yes indeed, and all our righteousnesses are like a bloody used tampon, to paraphrase Isaiah. But still we struggle on to do the right things, say the right things, and produce the right things. Such is life on this trail of tears: sometimes we make it, sometimes we don’t. Confession and repentance are always in order for ourselves—and extending those graces to others as well.

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  34. Its almost impossible to keep track of tips and thus to tax them. Usually, waiters and bartenders will agree together on a percentage of their income to be declared as tips. For example, if they agree to 15% and made $10 000 in wages they will declare $1500 in tips. Hugely underreported as long as all employees use the same percent Revenue Canada will accept it. And they ignore the back of the house employees who are “tipped in”

    A worrying trend in the industry has been the move for owners to keep the tips and then disperse them on payday. Since most people pay by credit or debit, wait staff no longer cash out at the end of shifts. Thus whether its a restaurant, hairdresser, or any other “tipped” service, owners and managers will skim the wages. My reluctance to take Trump at face value sees a no tax on tips as even less regulation and thus more opportunity for the employers to skim/steal tips.

    hrw

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  35. I stand by it, and it’s accurate. They have infested Congress.

    ——–

    “Vermin” is a negative term used to describe small, harmful, or objectionable animals or insects that are difficult to control. It can also refer to an irritating or obnoxious person, such as a bully. Examples of animals considered vermin include:** Rats** Mice** Cockroaches** Coyotes** Weasels** Rabbits that destroy gardens** Fleas** Lice** The term “vermin” is relative to human activities, so the specific species included can vary by region and industry.”

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  37. I believe I have been called something worse than vermin…bunny rabbits are vermin ya know. I was reminded by a sweet pastor friend when I dressed his sweet daughter in an outfit with a bunny on it! 🐇

    Noem is a sharp leader and she will do well in her position. There are lots of things that happen on farms that some would view as shocking. Killing the dog was humane. She recognized danger and handled it. I have done the same by having dangerous animals euthanized. Always validated by a vet.

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  38. @1:29

    I would add caution when reading C Peter Wagner and Dutch Sheets.

    When Wagner was given the pulpit I would leave. I told husband if “colonel Sanders” was preaching I am going home. Sometimes they would give a heads up that he was preaching at which time I would stay home. He was regarded as a “super” apostle and was practically worshiped by some and continues to be held in high regard after his death. Of course Ted Haggard was the presiding Pastor at the time and the World Prayer Center was designated as Wagner’s domain. Dutch Sheets was never on my radar other than their daughter attending the same Christian school as one of ours. A friend attended his church and was employed as a “prayer-er” at the church which I found odd.

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  39. Vermin is far different than a pack of snakes or brood of vipers. That latter phrases has their origins in the Bible and refer to corrupt political and religious leaders. Vermin as an insult especially in recent times has its origins as an anti-Semitic slur. Hitler used it to refer to both Jews and his political opponents. Unlike snakes and vipers, vermin are to be eradicated as a parasite. Vermin debases the political discourse far lower than snakes and vipers.

    hrw

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  40. The snake is symbolic of Satan—as in the one who seduced Eve in the Garden of Eden. Being called a snake or viper is just about as bad as it gets. Vermin would be a step up I think, but I really wouldn’t want either one in the house. Or in government. Or any position of power.

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  41. Thanks, HRW (8:25). “Vermin” definitely does have the connotation of something to kill by any means necessary, and the connection with the Holocaust makes it a particularly bad word. My hunch is AJ didn’t think of that connection, but will understand why several of us think it’s not a word to use for people when he is reminded of that one.

    It would be kind of like arguing that the N-word isn’t any worse than any other insulting word, so it’s OK to use it. Some words really are out of bounds.

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  42. More winning. Huntington Beach, CA has declared itself a ‘non-sanctuary city’. Hopefully this means that ICE can go to the jails to collect people to be deported rather than doing roundups of just working people. A much more humane effort.

    “Tonight, the Huntington Beach City Council voted to approve the initiative brought by Mayor Pat Burns to Declare the City of Huntington Beach a “Non-Sanctuary City for Illegal Immigration for the Prevention of Crime.”

    As the City Council Members commented, the intent of this Resolution is to deliberately sidestep the Governor’s efforts to subvert the good work of federal immigration authorities and to announce the City’s cooperation with the federal government, the Trump Administration, and Border Czar Tom Homan’s work. This new City policy and Declaration are common sense, supports our law enforcement, and advances public safety throughout the City. What the Governor is doing does not. Neither the Governor nor the State Legislature with the passage of laws may interfere with the City’s voluntary cooperation with federal authorities, nor cause or compel the City to violate federal laws such as Title 8 Section 1324 for the harboring of illegal immigrants. ”

    https://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/news_detail_T4_R269.php

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  43. A quick search of all taking umbrage at the term “vermin” turns up every liberal alarmist on the planet reporting it as Trump being a Nazi/Hitler. Yes…the sky is falling continues. If those reporting and taking such offense were honest they would agree Trump is no Hitler and Musk did not present the Nazi salute at the inauguration. But that does not fit their narrative nor their propaganda.

    Now when some on “the other side” of those alarmed are called deplorable who need to be “re programmed” well…I suppose we got over it

    Relevance of “deplorable”:

    pitiful, lame,cheap,wretched,disgusting,dirty,nasty,hateful,mean despicable,vile,contemptible,pitiable,lousy,disgraceful,abominable,detestable,abhorrent,scummy,revolting,ratty,repugnant,repulsive…well that’s the idea of the meaning of that word!

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  44. Thank you, Cheryl and HRW. I was going to point that out, too.

    *******

    The Bible has so much to say about the words we use, including the words we use for other people. This verse may not seem to fit “exactly,” but I think it is close.

    James 3:8-10:

    “But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”

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  45. I don’t think anyone linked this yet, but we watched JD Vance’s speech at the annual March for Life. We were so impressed by the depth of his understanding of the problems families are having and by his willingness to follow through with favorable governmental policies. It’s one thing to outlaw abortion, but it’s quite another to foster policies that actually promote the desire for people to have and raise families.

    “….Vice President J.D. Vance, who spoke at the rally, certainly gave the pro-lifers a boost of confidence with his speech, in which he stressed not only being pro-life, but also pro-family. He underlined the need to have “more babies in the United States of America.”

    “We march to protect the unborn. We march to proclaim and live out the sacred truth that every single child is a miracle and a gift from God,” Vance told the crowd to raucous applause. “The task of our movement is to protect innocent life, it’s to defend the unborn, and it’s also to be pro-family and pro-life in the fullest sense of that word possible.”

    “We need a culture that celebrates life at all stages, one that recognizes and truly believes that the benchmark of national success is not our GDP number or our stock market, but whether people feel that they can raise thriving and healthy families in our country,” he continued. “We failed a generation, not only by permitting a culture of abortion-on-demand, but also by neglecting to help young parents achieve the ingredients they need to lead a happy and meaningful life. A culture of radical individualism took root, one where the responsibilities and joys of family life were seen as obstacles to overcome, not as personal fulfillment or personal blessings.”

    https://thefederalist.com/2025/01/24/more-babies-in-the-united-states-of-america-trump-vance-signal-new-era-at-march-for-life/

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  48. Debra, I have a hunch the “brood of vipers” charge was indeed calling them “children of the devil.” As such it wasn’t a random name calling, but equivalent to calling bad shepherds “wolves.” I don’t think the instances are a good parallel. Christ was more concerned with religious leaders who led people astray, not with politicians who made bad choices.

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  49. Cheryl, Although on occasion I have felt like someone is slimy (snake-like) or weasel-like or wolf-like, to be candid, I don’t usually think of people in those terms or enjoy hearing them referred to as such. Image bearers and all. That being said, I don’t think it’s always wrong to do so. Opinions will vary on when it’s appropriate and I can respect that without feeling the need to judge one as being correct or incorrect. In other words, I’ll do the best I can, but sometimes I’m content to not be adamant one way or another. Taking in what information there is to gather in a conversation, and giving out what little I may have to give is sufficient.

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  50. I am with those not wanting the pejorative “vermin” to be used. It just has too much history relating to the Nazi’s and is a distraction at the very least.

    However, I must say that I think there are people here who would have scolded Paul for his language and sarcasm. God, too, maybe since he used sarcasm, as well.

    It seems some can get away with more subtle sarcasm or name calling, though.

    It seems most discussion gets stuck on the ways to discuss, which is one reason not to use that word and be careful in the first place.

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  53. I have not read the original statement in which the term was used, so I am late to the discussion. I would not think to use that word, but thinking of rats and fleas and how they spread Bubonic Plague and death, it seems those who are involved in activities like distributing fentynal (sp?) are spreading Plague and death so I can see a bit of justification, but given the prior perceived, howver inaccurate, association with Nazis, it would be inappropriate to use the term.

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  54. I call Godwins Law. Seriously people, the word vermin has been around for far longer than Hitler. Using it had nothing to do with him, and ya’ll know that. Just stop.

    “Godwin’s law (or Godwin’s rule), short for Godwin’s law of Nazi analogies, is an Internet adage asserting: “As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches 1.”

    https://en.wikipedia.org

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  56. Do we give up gay, rainbow, marriage, husband, wife, etc, because they are misused?

    Jesus spent little time addressing the Gentiles because he was addressing the Jewish people. A few Gentiles seeking to know God were addressed. “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs”, comes to mind.

    Not to mention, the same God, in the Old Testament had harsh words and actions toward the Gentiles, and He never changes.

    That said, if it bothers people, we are free in Christ to not use those terms. We have dictionaries and hopefully, larger vocabularies.

    mumsee

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  57. Re: 10:48am – And the swastika is ancient, and was not intended the way the Nazis used it. However, because of its relation to the Nazis, I would not suggest a person get a tattoo with it or hang a flag of it in front of their house.

    Vermin is a word that has been strongly connected to the Nazis’ view of the Jewish people. This is an issue for which Godwin’s Law does not apply, just as it wouldn’t apply to complaints of the use of the swastika.

    A different example is how the LGBTQ+ folks have appropriated the rainbow as their symbol. If I were to put out a flag with a lovely rainbow on it, passersby would not see it as a Christian symbol, but would think that I am promoting the LGBTQ+ agenda. That really is a shame, but that is the way it is.

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  58. Another example just came to mind: “Mentally retarded” is still, at least in some places, used as a valid diagnosis. But outside of the medical field, the use of the word “retarded” became an insult, and so it is suggested to not use that as a descriptor even of someone with that diagnosis.

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  59. Lol, I thought it was something Trump said; still, lol!

    Many are the offenses to be found among those who search out and dwell on such things. We all are guilty.

    1 Peter 4:8

    “Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others].”

    Is an apology being demanded so early in the year, already? Is this really worth dwelling on? I need to get back to my Bible study on holiness for I certainly need it more than the rest of you.

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  60. I have a swastika carved on my deck. One of my bedrooms has many drawn on the walls, carved into the wooden bedframe, on various papers. I am not a Nazi or Jew hater.

    mumsee

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  61. Janice – As for me, I am not looking for an apology, but to let AJ know the seriousness of the use of that word, which he may have not been aware of before. As Christians, we don’t want to give offense to those, like our friend HRW, who may “overhear” our “conversation” and perhaps draw a mistaken conclusion.

    The words we choose really are important.

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  62. Mumsee – Would I be mistaken to assume that you would not fly a flag with the swastika on it in front of your house, or put a swastika bumper sticker on your car?

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  63. In reading the apostle Paul’s words throughout the years, something that has stood out is his desire to not cause offense, to set aside his own “rights” in favor of not offending others.

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  64. BTW, I just want to point out that I initially did not comment about the “vermin” matter., knowing that my pointing that out would not be appreciated. But when I saw HRW point it out, I wanted to add my voice to show that we Christians are not necessarily okay with that.

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  65. This is a quote I came across in a newsletter. From what I read elsewhere, the messages were from Republicans:

    ~ “An aide to House Speaker Mike Johnson advised Republican colleagues against subpoenaing former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson as part of their investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack in an effort to prevent the release of sexually explicit texts that lawmakers sent her, according to written correspondence reviewed by The Post and a person familiar with the effort.” ~

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  66. Kizzie, those are the work of eighteen year old. We got him when he was four, he started decorating things with swastikas after we taught him to use a pencil. I have no idea where the idea of swastika’s came from or his fascination with World War Two. We have advised him to not carve in the deck and that those, in particular, are offensive. It is possible he learned about them in foster care as his foster dad was believed to be a gang member, thoroughly tattooed.

    mumsee

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  67. Sorry to raise such a fuss — I just wanted to point out some terms should not be used unless fully intended. The use of vermin is dehumanizing and indicates the need to eradicate or kill. Its not the same as deplorable, snake, viper, etc. In those cases, you simple want to remove and stay away from. Why not call the people in question snakes and vipers and then do what Jesus did – drive them from the temple ie kick them out of government. Call them a–holes and demand they be fired. No need for other langauge

    Vermin is indeed older than Nazis but has always been used to indicate a need to eradicate those given the label and for most of European history that meant the Jews who along with rats, fleas, witches among others were blamed for the black death. Why use a loaded term when unloaded ones are available? Just call the person an unAmerican a–hole or whatever else comes to mind.

    All of this reminded me of several articles and conversations I have read or heard. As a Gen X, I’m the last generation of those who had a family connection to WW2. Millennials and younger do not have the same connection nor would phrases and symbols trigger the same ideas or reactions. This also reminds me of the reaction to Elon Musk’s fascist salute — many reports just called it “awkward” or maybe “Roman” (which is where Mussolini copied it). But as a German nationalist friend of mine said; we know it when we see it. Not to mention my daughter in Berlin with her German leftists friends who were shocked it was treated so laissez faire by the world’s media.

    hrw

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  68. Apparently Mexico did object to US deportation flights as did Brazil and Colombia. However its not the actual deportation but the method used.

    Under Biden and previous admins, deportations were carried out using passenger jets. However, the current Trump admin has chosen to use military cargo planes — this is deliberate and part of the theatre they present to the cameras.

    According to treaties regarding deportations, the deportees are to be treated humanely and with dignity. The Latin American countries are objecting to inhumane treatment of the deportees. It says something that Latin American regimes are complaining about inhumane treatment.

    This ties in with my previous comments — when we use labels that dehumanize people it becomes easier to treat them as less than human, perhaps as mere cargo to be dumped.

    hrw

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  69. There’s an easy way for JD Vance and the rest of the Trump admin to demonstrate a pro-life and pro-family mindset. Paid maternity leave is obvious. Maybe free pre and post natal care — remove financial considerations from the abortion decision.

    The Catholic church has always been consistent in their pro-life message — no abortion, no death penalty. End the federal death penalty.

    I have more but you get the idea. A government pro-life platform should be more than just an abortion ban.

    hrw

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  71. Dehumanizing?

    You mean like the people I referred to as vermin did to American citizens whose worse crime was simply being at the capital and never entering? Putting them in $#1+hole gulags in DC with disgusting conditions and actual vermin and bugs? Weeks in solitary, beatings from guards, that kind of dehumanizing?

    Like I said, the vermin are obvious in DC prisons, and the DoJ, and not all of them are small and furry.

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  72. HRW,

    This is dehumanizing. Calling someone vermin is not. Your priorities are showing. You feign outrage at vermin, yet have never once batted an eye at the dehumanizing treatment of these political prisoners which I’ve posted examples of for years now. Your protests ring hollow. Same for a few others of you too. Your priorities are messed up. When you view vermin as a great offense, but sit silently while Jan6ers are abused by our govt and stare at your feet, I find it hard to rake your protests seriously.

    Aj

    https://x.com/Real_RobN/status/1881765143325138984?t=elYiTJ7dVadsaoSIZMnd2A&s=19

    “This is Washington DC Gulag, onAmerican soil.

    Torturing Jan 6 Political Prisoners With Ear-Piercing Noise And Depriving Them of Sleep For Weeks. FOR WEEKS. FOR WEEKS. FOR WEEKS. FOR WEEKS. FOR WEEKS,

    J6 defendants housed in C3A, the cell block known as the Patriot Pod in the DC gulag where J6ers are segregated from the general population,”

    —-

    “DC jail officials are making prisoners suffer with broken bones. (We can only guess whether it was an “accidental break” or not.) “

    —-

    https://x.com/Real_RobN/status/1881762423591550995?t=sAzGmWB7IkFZHnFXmcBNLA&s=19

    And here is,

    –> HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES DETAILED IN U.S. MARSHALS REPORT OF THE JANUARY 6ERS TORTURE FACILITY ‘THE DC JAIL GULAG’

    The report includes SCATHING breakdown of the inhumane conditions at DC Jail the U.S. Marshals found when inspecting the facility on October 18th 2021:

    – Water and food appeared to be withheld from detainees for punitive reasons

    – Inspectors observed large amounts of standing human sewage (urine and feces) in the toilets of multiple occupied cells. The smell of urine and feces was overpowering in many locations.

    – The water in many of the cells within South 1 and North 1 had been shut off for days,inhibiting detainees from drinking water, washing hands, or flushing toilets.

    DOC staff confirmed to inspectors that water to cells is ROUTINELY SHUT off for punitive reasons.

    – Food delivery and storage is inconsistent with industry standards. Hot meals were observed served cold and congealed.

    – Jail entrance screening procedures were inconsistent and sloppy.

    – Evidence of drug use was pervasive, and marijuana smoke and odor were widespread, and the facility had a strong smoke and odor of marijuana.

    – Detainees had observable injuries with no corresponding medical or incident reports available to inspectors.

    – DOC staff were observed antagonizing detainees.

    – DOC staff were observed not following COVID-19 mitigation protocols.

    – Several DOC staff were observed directing detainees to not cooperate with USMS inspectors. One DOC staffer was observed telling a detainee to “stop snitching”.

    – Supervisors appeared unaware or uninterested in any of these issues.”

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  73. Hrw, I must beg to differ once again. Military transport is not dehumanizing at all. My children and I have logged many hours on them. The only time I have flown on an airplane without getting airsickness. Comfortable but a bit loud. Food was great. Lots of military folk ride in them. They are not business class but I have only done that twice. It was pleasant but I see no need to offer it to all deportees. The worst is probably standard seating. A bunch of rude disrespectful people crammed into tight seating with tv screens all over the place. That is inhumane.

    mumsee

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  74. THIS!

    Is inhumane.

    https://x.com/GrammyBridge/status/1881552756260938116?t=e87PTw2ObRt0g4Uy0AHnBA&s=19

    “I can’t wait until you start interviewing the #J6Prisoners that were grotesquely tortured. Enduring days, months and years of untold horrors without allowing to have trials. Rats, sewer water, raw chicken, human feces, no showers for 20+ days, beaten, no blankets, no toilets etc. the list goes on..”

    —

    https://x.com/BreannaMorello/status/1883218744433922067?t=KT6un6876RdkgJGIMLcS-w&s=19

    “When members of Congress visited the J6ers inside the DC gulag their staffers called me.

    They said they immediately felt sick because of the jail’s conditions.

    Black mold was painted over and the smell of cleaning products was nauseating.

    One J6er who was allergic to gluten was intentionally only being fed food with gluten–making him violently ill.

    These people need free healthcare for life and massive settlements.

    Everyone involved needs to be criminally charged.”

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  75. AJ — if you want me to say the American prison system is a gulag and dehumanizing; no problem. I’ve been saying that for decades. I’m not surprised people are treated badly in there nor am I surprised by complaints about ICE or the border guards. But I don’t call the guards, the prosecutors, etc — vermin just because they are part of the gulag. They are still humans.

    Mumsee — have to agree with economy fare. I love Europe but hate the 7-8 hour flights. I feel like a sardine (not quite vermin)

    hrw

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  76. Here’s to more expensive coffee…….

    https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-colombia-migrant-repatriation-flights-1.7442038

    Mumsee — it appears its not just the cargo flights, its the use of handcuffs and leg manacles on migrants who are not criminals.

    Meanwhile — Trump is suggesting that Israel, Egypt and Jordan work together to ethnically cleanse the Gaza Strip.

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/26/trump-resumes-sending-2000-pound-bombs-to-israel-undoing-biden-pause

    hrw

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  78. It is possible to believe that those conditions are terrible and also believe that the word vermin should not be used for fellow human beings. They are not exclusive thoughts.

    In fact, the two can go together. The prisoners that are mistreated in those ways are most probably looked down upon as a kind of vermin – or some other dehumanizing pejorative – themselves. (No, I am not saying that they are, but that those imprisoning them may think so.)

    As has been mentioned somewhere above, I think, merely labeling a person or group of people with those kinds of pejoratives strips them of their humanity, which has the effect of making abuse and hatred easier.

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  79. Regarding the refusal of Columbia to receive it’s citizens: The Columbian president is backpedaling as fast as he can apparently.

    “Colombian President Gustavo Petro backed down on his declaration that he would not accept deportation flights from the United States. He now says he will send his presidential plane to personally pick up the deported migrants, a U.S. official with knowledge on the matter told Breitbart News.

    The Colombian president’s backpedaling came after President Donald Trump announced he would impose numerous sanctions—including “emergency 25% tariffs”—on Colombia in response to Petro’s reversal of his promise to accept deportation flights….

    https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2025/01/26/colombias-petro-backs-down-sending-personal-plane-to-pick-up-migrants-after-trump-announced-sanctions/

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  80. To go along with my last comment, I have been re-watching “The Good Wife,” a show that was on CBS several years ago.

    In one episode, the case involved a pregnant woman with some kind of possibly fatal abnormality related to the pregnancy. (I can’t recall the exact details.) Her insurance company was refusing to pay for the treatment she needed to continue the pregnancy, which ensured that the baby would die.

    The attorneys for the woman referred to her unborn baby as a baby, but the attorneys for the insurance company insisted that the baby be referred to as a fetus. It struck me that they realized that calling the baby a fetus could change how he or she was viewed. “Fetus” sounds a little less human than “baby,” and made it easier for the insurance executives to deny the coverage of his or her birth and treatment.

    Words matter. They matter a lot.

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  81. And that just reminded me of this:

    ~ “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” ~

    Amen to that, Lord!

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  83. The word “vermin” for human beings also removes moral accountability from people. Roaches aren’t being morally evil when they act like roaches; we don’t kill them because they “deserve” death (it isn’t the death penalty), but because they harm us and have no moral right to a fair trial.

    HRW, I’d argue that being opposed to the death penalty (on principle) is not more “pro-life.” Being opposed to misuse of it, sure. But the moral argument FOR the death penalty is that this particular crime (e.g. rape, murder) is so hideous that the person who committed it forfeits his own life. It is taking human life so seriously that the person who wantonly kills (or commits very serious levels of violence short of killing) is punished in a very serious way.

    We have come to think of prison as being to “rehabilitate” people, which is silly and ineffective. First, prison tends to make criminals even more hardened in crime, but second, if the criminal doesn’t deserve to be punished, then punishing him is itself an evil (even if it happens to “work”). But when we look at crime and punishment as “what does this criminal deserve?” and “how can the victim be restored, if possible?” then we might well choose death for the violent offender, and repayment for the thief or destroyer of property. (Long periods of being locked up to compare notes with other prisoners is not often the most effective punishment. Lock him up while he works to repay what he has stolen or while he is waiting to be executed, sure, but not as somehow the punishment itself.)

    The irony to me is that the same people who thinks it’s OK to kill an innocent unborn baby think it’s horrific to kill a man who has brutally raped and murdered multiple people. There can be consistency in being opposed to both execution and abortion, but there is only glaring inconsistency in thinking it is OK to execute the innocent but damnable to execute the guilty.

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  84. So thankful that Trump acted in good order to go to NC first to address needs there that seemed swept under the rug by the previous administration. Then he went to CA. Both need so much assistance.

    I think with Trump making decisions to put the main administration of services back into the states themselves is wise unless Federal grant money is not used for the purposes it was meant for. I used to be an accountant responsible for Federal grants coming into the Dept of Natural Resources. I imagine state offices will need expansion soon. It will be interesting to watch. It will open up a lot of new local positions that can hopefully be more effective.

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  85. Janice I agree. He’s been very active in his first week as president. Those still suffering loss need to know they have someone in their corner who has the ability to get things done on their behalf. At work we’ve sent supplies and our pastor led a team of men from our church to NC to help rebuild.

    I really hope the government in California is willing to follow through on their promises of suspending the red tape to allow residents to move forward in rebuilding. Trump has promised to help on his end and even tasked Rick Grenell with being his trouble shooter there.

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